I'd just like to check my work on the below problem, thanks in advance!

(-a)^3(-a^3)^6
----------------
(a^6)^9

I Hope I wrote that correct.

I got

- 1/a^33

or

-1
--
a^33

you answer would not be negative. you have a negative times a negative in the top

EDIT: Actually, you (and CaptainBlack) are correct. the answer would be negative, since raisng a negative number to the 6th power makes it positive and then you are multiplying by a negative number (thanks CaptainBlack)

P.S.

Is the degree of this polynomial 4?

1-2x^4-2x^2

yes, you are correct. the degree of a polynomial is the highest power that occurs for any term

Last edited by Jhevon; April 29th 2007 at 01:43 AM.
Reason: Silly Mistake